Toutai Kefu

Toutai Kefu

Full name	Rodger Siaosi Toutai Kefu
Date of birth	(1974-04-08) 8 April 1974
Place of birth	Tonga
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	113 kg (17 st 11 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Steve Kefu, Mafileo Kefu (brothers)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Number 8
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2004–10	Kubota Spears
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1996–2004	Queensland Reds	103
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1997–2003	Australia	60	(50)
Coaching career
Years	Club / team
2010–11 2011–12 2014–15 2015 2016-	Sunshine Coast Stingrays Tonga Assistant Kubota Spears Souths Under 15 Div 3 Tonga

Toutai Kefu (born 8 April 1974 in Tonga) is a rugby player who won 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian rugby union side (the Wallabies).

Career

Big, quick and powerfully built, he was a stand out school boy performer before making his international test debut at the age of 23 on 23 August 1997 as a replacement during the 1997 Tri Nations Series match against South Africa. He took over the position of number 8 from fellow Tongan Willie Ofahengaue in 1998 when he gained his first starting appearance with Australia in their record 76-0 win over England. This score remains the biggest losing margin that England has suffered.

He played a vital role in the Australian side that lifted the 1999 Rugby World Cup, scoring against Romania in the opening game. His father was once the heavyweight boxing champion of Tonga.

One of his finest moments came in John Eales' final game for the Wallabies when he scored the try which beat the All Blacks, gave the retiring Skipper a winning record against the New Zealanders and the perfect send off.

During the 2003 Tri Nations Series game against New Zealand, he cracked a shoulder blade.

In 2007 Kefu signed on to play for Kubota Spears in the Top League in Japan.

In 2010 Kefu became head coach of the Sunshine Coast Stingrays, a team in the Queensland Premier League. In 2011, he left the Stingrays temporarily to take up the role of assistant coach of Tonga in preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In 2015 Kefu became head coach of the Souths Rugby Union Under 15 Div 3 team.

He now lives in Japan and Brisbane. Brisbane with his family.

External links

• Toutai Kefu photos & stats on Sporting Heroes
• http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/01/1043804571583.html
• Player Profile

Sporting positions
Preceded by Isitolo Maka	Tonga National Rugby Union Coach (caretaker) 2012	Succeeded by Mana Otai
Preceded by Mana Otai	Tonga National Rugby Union Coach 2016–present	Succeeded by Incumbent